Wawrinka ‘focusing on the present’ after beautiful career

Stanislas Wawrinka has opened up after registering his first win at a major since the Australian Open 2021.

The Swiss star beat Albert Ramos Vinolas in four hours and 35 minutes in the first round of the ongoing French Open in Paris.

“One of the big reasons why I keep playing is to live these emotions,” Wawrinka told reporters.

“I think it was special today, to be here again, [have] a lot of support, a lot of fans here,” he added. “It helped me a lot to stay in the match and to keep fighting for it.”

The 38-year-old will face Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second round.

“It's going to be an interesting match, for sure,” said Wawrinka. “I think it's the first time we are going to play each other. I know him and [have seen] him play many, many times. When he's healthy, like he has been this year, he's always a dangerous player.”

Wawrinka also spoke about reuniting with his coach Magnus Norman, who had helped him win all three of his major titles, last year.

“We are very happy, both of us,” Wawrinka said. “We are highly motivated. We really want to finish our last chapter together, and it's the end of my career.

“We have experienced beautiful emotions, both of us. He won his Grand Slams with me as a player, so it's very positive. We know each other well enough to know what we want to achieve, what we can still achieve, and I hope that good results will come.

“This beautiful career I have had, I don't focus on the past. I'm always focusing on the present. For me, thinking about all this is when I will stop playing. As long as I keep playing, it's always been important to be in the present, in the moment with the objectives for the future.

“I know that I'm not at the level of 2015, and I certainly will never be [again]. It's not a problem for me. I try to enjoy. I'm 38 years old. I have accomplished much more than I could have imagined, but I know that I have a lot of things to do in tennis. I'm still capable of winning great matches.

“But for that, I need to accept where I am every day. I fight to progress.”

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